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14
WORK OF THE YEAR, 1903.
Having briefly dealt with a few of the short-comings found in
the working of these Acts, I now beg to submit the record of
what your staff has been able to accomplish in spite of these
defects.
HOUSE TO HOUSE INSPECTION.
Following out our usual plan of putting in all time left over
from other work to this, the total number of house to house visits
made this year amounts to 2,758, which is about the average for
preceding years.
INFECTIOUS CASES.
In connection with these there were 729 inspections made, and
656 persons of all ages sent to hospital. Seven hundred and
sixty-eight rooms or houses were disinfected, and 19,712 articles
of bedding were removed from premises within the Borough and
after disinfection at the station, returned to the various owners'.
Ninety-four articles were destroyed as unfit to return. On
application after cases of measles, phthisis, etc., 31 houses and
eight sets of bedding, etc., were disinfected. The temporary
shelter was brought into use in 19 cases to accommodate persons
who otherwise would have had to remain in the streets during
the disinfection of their homes and goods.
COMPLAINTS.
Two thousand one hundred and twenty-four complaints were
received from various sources, and were all carefully enquired
into and dealt with. They represented all manner of
things, and show that the Health Officer is supposed to exercise
numerous powers, including the prompt removal of undesirable
lodgers, the settlement of disputes concerning rent, the right of a
particular tenant to the use of the washhouse and copper on a
given day of the week, and other matters of a similar character.
It is, however, most satisfactory for your Committee to know,